Prefabricated wire panel structures



July 8, 1958 c. F. WALSH PREFABRICATED WIRE PANEL STRUCTURES Filed Oct. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. 6/ar/ E fl/a/s/z BY WM ma M ATTORNEYS This invention relates to improvements in the construction of prefabricated Wire panel structures, and a method of assembling the same. In general, the invention States Patent relates to prefabricated structures whose walls are cornposed of sections or panels of wire fabric arranged to easily interlock with each other, and which will readily withstand substantial internal pressures. In particular, the invention is concerned with prefabricated farm structures or the like composed of a multiplicity of panels of wire fabric that occupy only a minimum of space in storage or transit, and which may be erected at the place of the use without the necessity of employing skilled labor or the need of specialized tools.

While the invention may have utility in other fields, it is particularly useful in composing a farm structure for the storage of ear corn, the temporary storage of forage crops, or for composing animal pens and the like. The structures may be made in any desired shape either with a continuous curved wall, such as a cylinder, or where desired, the walls may be formed in an angular shape, such as a rectangular structure.

In one form as disclosed herein, the invention is embodied in a cylindrical corn crib for the storage of ear corn after harvest. While it has been a prior practice to store ear corn in cribs generally composed of wire fabric and provided with a sheet metal roof, the prior cribs involve construction that required the use of skilled labor and special tools to assemble and erect the building, that added considerably to the cost thereof. In another form of the invention as disclosed herein, a rectangular enclosure is provided that might, for example, be used as a pen for small animals In either instance, the structure can be quickly assembled at the place of use, without the aid of special tools. While it is possible to compose a structure of a single tier of panels, Where substantial height is needed, as well as strength, the structure may be composed of a number of tiersof panels, I

with each tier vertically joined to another tier so as to give considerable'rigidity and strength to the structure. This application constitutes acontinuation-in-part of my prior application, Ser. No. 481,136, filed January 11, 1955, and now abandoned in favor of this application. An object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated structure, embodying wire panel walls interlocked with rigid joints between the panels.

Another object is to provide a prefabricated structure whose Walls may be arranged in either a continuous curve or with angular corners, said walls composed of wire lattice panels, and in which the joint between the panels is made by deforming a row of lattice on one 'ice the tiers or rings are interlocked by telescoping joints that interlock the panels so as to give rigidity to the entire wall structure.

A further object is to provide a structure whose walls are composed of a number of tiers or rings of panels in which the panels of each ring or tier are reinforced along the junction between vertically adjacent panels, and are further interlocked by telescoping joints that extend be- .tween the successive tiers or rings.

Other and further objects may become apparent from the following specification and claims, and in the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cylindrical corn crib, forming one type of structure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one panel of the crib shown in Fig. 1, with portions broken away to reduce the size of the figure;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the interlocking ends of the two panels of a continuous curved wall, the dotted line indicating the positions of the parts under stress from the interior of the crib;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1, showing I part of the juncture shown in Fig. 5 is effected; the completion of the step being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a simple rectangular structure embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7, showing the joints between an end panel and two side panels.

Having reference to the several views of the drawing, the structures and mode of assembly will now be explained in detail.

Referring first to Fig. 1, general reference numeral 10 indicates in its entirety a crop storage building, and more particularly, a crib for the storage of ear corn. The

building 10 is constituted of reinforced wire fabric walls 12 that are intended to, provide support for a substantial quantity of ear corn. A cone-shaped sheet metal roof 14 is secured to the upper edges of the wall 12 to shed rain and snow. The side wall 12 is composed of a multiplicity of independent wire panels, one of, which is indicated at 16,.that are suitable joined to each other,

as shown in greater detail in other figures of the drawing.

panel, which is intermeshed with a normal row of lattice Having reference to Fig. 2, general reference numeral 17 indicates a wire fabric panel which is rectangular in outline, that is composed of a multiplicity of horizontal strands 18 that are joined at their opposite ends by transverse strands 20 and 22, and a multiplicity of intermediate transverse strands 24, which with the horizontal strands forms a rectangular lattice. Normally the wires 20, 22 and 24 are welded to the horizontal wires '18.

An additional strand 26, while'not essential, is also secured to the horizontal strands 18 adjacent the vertical end strand 20.

For purposes of forming a joint between two panels, I

a row of lattice composed of horizontal strands 18 between the end strand 20 and the adjacent vertical strand 26 are uniformly bent or deformed in one directionfrom the plane of the panel to compose a row of opensided loops 28. As seen in Fig. 3, the row of deformed wires a e in e t fiht a op n ...9 ,nprm l row f lattice of another panel so that a row of three sided loops are formed, each composed of the intermeshed horizontal strands of the two panels. The row of loops are then interlocked by the insertion of an angular locking bar 32 through the row of loops thus formed, and by virtue of the angular relationship of the parts, a rigid non-pivoting joint is provided.

In forming a cylindrical structure, such as the corn crib 10, the several panels are each bent into a curve conforming to the curvature of the circumference of the crib, and the deformed strands 28 of one panel are interlocked with a row of normal strands on the end of another panel. However, since one portion of the joints or junctures constitutes a normal row of lattice, by increasing the width of the panels, a crib of variable volume could be formed if needed. To compose a structure of substantial height, which is also strong and rigid, a second tier or ring of panels, designated in Fig. 1 by reference character 36, is then formed in the same manner as described in connection with the formation of tier or ring 34. As seen in Fig. 4, the angular shaped tie members 32 are provided with tapered points 32a and telescoped within the upper portion of tie members 32 that secure the first ring of of panels together. After the second tier or ring 36 has been formed in the manner described. T-shaped connecting members, one of which is designated at 38in Figs. and 6, are interposed between the upper edge of each panel forming ring 34 and the lower edge of each panel forming ring 36. The T-shaped members 38 are each provided with laterally spaced openings 40 therein, and through each of these openings is slidably placed a straight wire designated at 42 in Fig. 6, whose opposite ends are then bent into loops 44 and 46 by a hand tool 48. The loops 44 and 46 are secured about the horizontal strands 18 of each of the respective panels.

Assuming that a third tier or ring of panels, designated at 50 in Fig. 1 is desired, the same procedure would be followed as has been described in the formation of tier or ring 36.

Following the formation of the top tier or ring 50, the sheet metal roof 14, which may be made in sections for ease of handling, is secured to the upper limits of the uppermost ring in a conventional manner. The roof 14 ,is provided with a top entry 52, forming the up ermost limit of the cone, and provides a means of dumping ear corn into the interior of building 10.

As it is necessary to provide an entryway or means of removing the crop from the building, a special panel 54 is provided in ring 34 which has been prefabricated to include a doorway 56. Panel 54 would in all other respects be similar to panel 16 and united to adjacent panels in the same manner as perviously described.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, is shown the manner in which the invention is applicable to structures other than a cylindrical wall surface, such as is embodied in Fig. 1. General reference numeral 60 indicates in its entirety a rectangular structure as seen in plan view. Reference characters 62, 64, indicate side panels of fiat wire fabric of which no portion has been bent or deformed from the plane of the panel. Each of the panels is composed of the usual lattice embodying horizontal wires here disclosed by reference character 18a joined at regular intervals to transverse or vertically extending wires, 24a. Reference characters 20a and 22a designated the end transverse or vertical wires of the side panels 62, 64. Reference characters 66, 68, designate the end panels that are of a similar nature composed of the horizontal strands 18b joined by transverse strands 24b and with the respective end strands designated by reference characters 20b and 22b, as seen in Fig. 8. The vertical or transverse strands next adjacent to the end strands, as seen in Fig. 8, are designated by the common reference character 26b. With respect to panels 66 and 68, the row of horizontal strands between the end strands 20b and 22b and the next adjacent strands 2611 are uniformly bent or deformed from the planes of the respective panels to form open-sided loops indicated by reference characters 28a and 28b at the opposite ends of the panels. The loops 28a and 28b of panels 66, 68, are inserted through a selected row of the normal lattice of each of panels 62, 64, and interlocked by the members 32b so as to form a joint substantially identical to that disclosed in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent that either of the end panels 66 or 68 could be joined at any place between the opposite ends of the side panels 62, 64, and should it be desirable to insert a partition within the interior of the rectangular structure 60, either lengthwise or crosswise of the structure, to sub-divide the space therein, that a sub-dividing panel similar to panels 66, 68, could be used for that purpose.

In the disclosures of Figs. 7 and 8, the panels 62, 64, are shown without any deformed strands, and panels 66, 68, are shown with the deformed portions 28a and 28/2 at the opposite ends thereof. It will be apparent that each of the panels could be uniformly deformed at one end thereof, similar to panel 17 in Fig. 2. Also, although not shown, an appropriate door or gate could be formed where desired within any of the several panels 62, 64, 66, 68.

While the structure is only shown as composed of a single tier or ring of panels, should it be desirable to form the structure of several tiers or rings of panels, to add height and rigidity to the structure, the interlocking mechanisms of Figs. 4 and 5 could be used therewith in substantially the same manner as previously disclosed.

It is believed that the foregoing description is adequate to describe the mode of forming the panels of wire fabric, and of erecting buildings or structures of different shapes for different uses. Either structure has a primary function of admitting air to the interior thereof, and yet being capable of withstanding substantial internal pressure. In the case of the corn crib, when pressure is placed on the wall, the strands at their various junctions will move from the full line disclosure of Fig. 3 to the dotted line position therein, which more securely interlocks the junction and transfers some of the stress to the vertical tic member 32, and since the several panels are interconnected with each other, as disclosed in Fig. 4, the stress is transposed throughout the several tiers or rings of panels. It has been determined by actual test that a building of the type shown in Fig. 1 can be subjected to many times the pressure that could be expected from an equivalent mass of ear corn, and the building showed no sign of sag or distortion.

The structure shown in Fig. 7, and variations thereof, has broad utility for confining animals. One example of such usage is in the farrowing of pigs. When a sow is about to give birth to a litter of pigs, it is desirable that she be confined, and after the young pigs are born, it is essential that they be confined with the sow and yet allowed an extra space where they can be protected from being crushed by the sow when she lies down. The structure of Fig. 7 provides a general pen, and by placing therein a partition of lesser height than the walls, but spaced upwardly from the ground or bottom surface, a sub-division of the pen is provided for the young pigs where they may escape from the sow and still be generally confined. Because of the nature of the joints shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it will be apparent that the structure can be easily sub-divided and yet all of the lateral confining surfaces have great strength.

Also, a larger pen or corral can be made for other animals, using a multiplicity of panels laterally joined as disclosed in Fig. 3, to form the several sides, and joined at the corners as disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8.

An important advantage of the invention resides in the provision of prefabricated wire panel enclosures that may be made in different forms, but in all instances provided with rigid, sturdy joints between the panels.

Another advantage is that the prefabricated parts in their disassembled condition occupy only a minimum of space in storage 'or transit, and that such structures can be erected at the site of use by persons of ordinary skill and without the necessity of specialized tools, thus eflecting a substantial saving of the eventual user.

Another advantage is that by a slight variation in the bend of the horizontal strands, either a lateral joint, or an angular joint can be formed.

Another advantage resides in the means of interconnecting successive tiers or rings of panels, one above the other, in such a manner as to give considerable strength and rigidity to the general structure.

A further advantage residesin the fact that if through wear or deterioration, some parts of the structure require replacement, this may be accomplished at a minimum expense.

As numerous changes in the type of wire fabric, securing ties, and other details may be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention is not restricted to the disclosure of the drawings, but only to the extent of the appended claims.

'Iclaim:

1. In a prefabricated structure embodying a lateral confining surface coniposed of a number of individual wire panels that when joined form an enclosure, each of said panels comprising a multiplicity of parallel horizontal strands and a transverse strand secured to each of the horizontal strands at the opposite extremities of said horizontal strands said horizontal strands adjacent one of the transverse end strands uniformly deformed into a row of open-sided loops and forming a joining surface on said one panel, the normal horizontal strands of another panel adjacent an end transverse strand forming a joining surface on said other panel, said row of deformed strands of the first named panel projecting between the normal strands of the other panel adjacent the end transverse strand thereof to form a series of aligned closed loops in which each loop is composed of a deformed strand of one panel and a relatively normal strand of the other panel bounded on either lateral side by a transverse strand of each of said panels, and a rigid tie member extending through the axes of said series of closed loops and interlocking said panels.

2. In a prefabricated structure embodying a later-al confining surface composed of a number of individual wire panels that when joined form an enclosure, each of said panels comprising a multiplicity of parallel strands extending in one direction and a multiplicity of parallel strands extending at right angles to the first named strands and collectively forming rows of a rectangular lattice, the strands of one row of the lattice of one panel uniformly deformed into a row of open-sided loops and forming a joining surface on said one panel, the normal strands of one row of the lattice of another panel forming a. joining surface on said other panel, said row of deformed strands of the first named panel projecting between the normal strands of the row of lattice of the other panel to form a series of aligned closed loops in which each loop is composed of a deformed strand of one panel and a relatively normal strand of the other panel bounded on either side by a transverse strand of each of the panels, and a rigid t-ie member extending through the axes of said series of closed loops and interlocking said panels.

' 3. In a prefabricated structure embodying a lateral confining surface composed ofa number of individual wire panels that when joined form an enclosure, each of said panels comprising a multiplicity of parallel horizontal strands and a multiplicity of parallel strands extending at right angles to the first named strands and joined to said first named strands and collectively forming rows of a rectangular lattice, the strands of one end row of the lattice of one panel uniformly deformed into a row of open-sided loops and forming a joining surface on said one panel, the normal strands of any one selected similar row of the lattice of another panel forming a joinpanel laterally bounded on either side by a transverse strand of each of said panels, and a rigid tie member extending through the axes of said series of closed loops and interlocking said panels.

4. In a prefabricated structure embodying a lateral confining surface composed of a number of individual wire panels that when joined form an enclosure, each of said panels comprising a multiplicity of parallel strands extending in one direction and a multiplicity of parallel strands extending at right angles to the first named strands and collectively forming rows of a rectangular lattice, the

strands of one row of the lattice of one panel uniformly; deformed into a row of angular peaks and forming a joining surface on said one panel, the normal strands of one row of the lattice of another panel forming a joining surface on said other panel, said row of deformed strands of the first named panel projecting between the row of normal strands of the other panel to form a series of aligned triangular closed loops in which each loop is composed of two sides of a deformed strand of one panel and one side of the normal strand of the other panel laterally bounded on either side by a transverse strand of each panel, and a rigid right angle tie member extending through the axes of said series of triangular loops and rigidly interlocking said panels.

5. In a farm building, a wall structure comprising a multiplicity of individual panels of wire fabric each composed of a multiplicity of spaced parallel horizontal strands and a vertical transverse strand connecting the horizontal strands at each end of each of said panels, the horizontal strands of one panel adjacent a vertical transverse strand uniformly deformed into a row of open-sided loops and forming a joining surface on one of said panels, the normal horizontal strands of another panel adjacent an end transverse strand forming a joining surface on another of said panels, said row of deformed strands of said first named panel projecting between the normal strands of said other named panel adjacent the end transverse strand thereof to form a series of vertically aligned closed loops in which each loop is composed of a deformed strand of one panel and a relatively normal strand of the other panel bounded on either lateral side by a transverse strand of each of said panels, tie members for the series of loops between each pair of panels shaped to conform to the contour of the several loops extending through the axes of each series of loops interconnecting the several panels to form a closed tier of panels, a second tier of panels constituted of a multiplicity of panels of wire fabric formed to interfit with each other in the same manner as the panels of the first tier, the lower edge of the panels forming the second tier of panels being contiguous to the upper edge of the panels forming the first tier of panels, and tie members of greater length thanthe series of loops of the second tier connecting the loops of the panels of the second tier and telescoping with the tie members of the several series of loops of the first tier of panels to interlock the panels of the second tier with each other and with the panels forming the first tier.

6. In a farm building, a wall structure composed of a multiplicity of individual panels of wire fabric each composed of a multiplicity of equally spaced parallel horizontal strands and a multiplicity of spaced vertical strands connecting the horizontal strands and forming a rectangular lattice of each panel, the strands of one row of the lattice of one panel uniformly deformed into a row of angular peaks and forming a joining surface on said one panel, the normal strands of one row of the lattice of another panel forminga joining surface on said other panel, said row of deformed strands of the first named panel projecting between the row of normal strands of the other panel to form a series of aligned triangular closed loops in which each loop is composed of two sides of a deformed strand of one panel and one side of the normal strand of the other panel laterally bounded on either side by a transverse strand of each of said panels, a right angle tie member extending through the axis of each series of loops and forming the several panels into a closed tier of panels, a second closed tier of panels constituted of a multiplicity of panels of wire fabric formed to interfit with each other in the same manner as the panels of the first tier of panels, the lower edges of the panels forming the second tier of panels being contiguous to the upper edges of the panels forming the first tier, right angle tie members of greater length than the series of loops of the second tier extending through each series of loops of the second tier and telescoping with the similar tie members of the first tier to interlock the panels of the second tier with each other and with the panels forming the first tier,

a rigid T-shaped member extending horizontally between the contiguous edges of each panel of each tier, and clamping means carried by said rigid members and clamping the horizontal strands of each of the panels of the first tier with adjacent panels of the second tier along their contiguous edges.

7. In a farm building, a Wall structure comprising a multiplicity of individual panels of wire fabric composed of a multiplicity of spaced parallel horizontal strands and a vertical transverse strand connecting the horizontal strands at each end of each of said panels, the horizontal strands of each panel uniformly deformed in one direction from the plane of the panel adjacent one and vertical strand, the deformed end of each panel underlying an op posite end of an adjacent panel With the deformed strands protruding through the spaces therein in alignment with the horizontal strands of said latter panel and with the horizontal strands of said latter panel forming a series of vertically spaced loops that are laterally bounded on either side by the vertical end connecting strand of each panel, each of said panels being curved in the plane of the horizontal strands, tie members for each pair of panels shaped to conform to the contour of the several loops interconnecting the opposite ends of each panel to form a ring of panels, a second ring of panels constituted of a multiplicity of panels of Wire fabric formed to interfit with each other in the same manner as the panels of the first ring, the lower edge of the panels forming the second ring being contiguous to the upper edge of the panels forming the first ring, and tie members of greater length than the series of loops of the second ring connecting the loops on opposite ends of the panels of the second ring and telescoping with the tie members of the first ring to interlock the panels of the second ring with each other and with the panels forming the first ring.

8. In a farm building, a wall structure comprising a multiplicity of individual panels of wire fabric each composed of a multiplicity of equally spaced parallel horizon tal strands and a multiplicity of equally spaced vertical strands connecting the horizontal strands and forming a rectangular lattice of each panel, the horizontal strands of each panel adjacent one end thereof angularly deformed into a row of uniform peaks extending in one direction from the plane of the panel in an end row of the lattice, the deformed end of each panel underlying an opposite end of an adjacent panel with the deformed strands protruding through the lattice therein in alignment with the horizontal strands of said latter panel and with the horizontal strands of said latter panel forming a series of vertically spaced triangular loops that are latorally bounded on either side by the vertical connecting strands of each panel, each of said panels being curved in the plane of the horizontal strands, a right angle tie member extending through the interior of each series of loops forming the several panels into a ring, a second curved ring constituted of a multiplicity of panels of wire fabric formed to interfit with each other in the same manner as the panels of the first ring, the lower edge of the panels forming the second ring being contiguous to the upper edges of the panels forming the first ring, right angle tie members of greater length than the series of loops of the second ring extending through each series of loops of the second ring and telescoping with the similar tic members of the first ring to interlock the panels of the second ring with each other and with the panels forming the first ring, a rigid T-shaped member extending horizontally between the contiguous edges or" each panel of each ring, and clamping means carried by said rigid members and clamping the horizontal strands of each of the panels of the first ring with adjacent panels of the second ring along their contiguous edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,796,156 Harberts June 18, 1957 

